“The best
advice I
can give
to anyone
thinking
about starting
to paint or
draw is that it’s never too late,”
says Emma Taylor. “You can
be 80 and decide to take it up.
Some of the best artists I know
are people who have
never had a single
lesson and have
taken up art as
a hobby later
on in life.”
Emma’s
passion for
painting started
when she was
young. With a
countryside upbringing- she lived on farms in Scotland
and the New Forest and went
“It’s never too late!”
Emma Taylor
to boarding school in the Lake
District – Emma was lucky
enough to be surrounded
by inspiring landscapes.
“I have always sketched and
painted. Everywhere I went
I carried a little sketchpad
and pencil and drew my
surroundings. I dreamt of being
a book illustrator and wanted to
go to art college.”
As it happens, Emma
didn’t attend art college
but instead had
a successful career
in media. Her love
of drawing and
painting was not
put aside, however- she worked on her
art in the evenings
and at weekends and
even managed to have solo
exhibitions in London and
Hampshire as well as taking on
Emma Taylor’s
Tips and
essentials
OThere is never a right
or a wrong way with art- just enjoy it and don’t
feel restricted; you will
find your own style.
OMost importantly, paint
or draw something that
interests you.
OAn easel and a mirror
are essential pieces of
kit. The easel makes you
stand back from your
work; it’s very easy to
get immersed in one
section of the picture.
The mirror is a brilliant
way of looking at your
work from a fresh
perspective – hold it up
in front of your work and
look at the image in the
mirror. It really works!art commissions over the years.
“Painting and drawing is
something that I know I will
always do; it means so much to
me. When I‘m painting, I can
relax and focus on just one thing.
It is my way of slowing down a
bit, giving me time to think and
reflect on things.
”What I love more than
anything is being on a riverbank
with a sketchbook and taking in
the surroundings, watching the
natural world go by – kingfishers,
water voles, dragonflies... you
notice so much more when you
are sketching.
“I do have an ambition to
go to art college one day... my
feeling is that you are never too
old to be an art student! Who
knows? I might be 70 by the
time I get the opportunity to
go to college, but it is definitely
something I hope to do!”If you work during the
day, try to go to evening
or weekend art courses
to keep developing
your skills.Bottom images, left to right:
Blue Cow; Lost Hare in the Snow;
Kit & Conker; Dark Stormy Skies.Top images, left to right:
Winter Sheep; Lara and
Lottie; Sunset in Norfolk.
Right: Cornish Skies.